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Between the months of May and June, two theoretical-practical workshops have been carried out for the cement company Argos, in Colombia.

As part of our strategy of customer loyalty, through continuing education, 2 sessions were organized in 2 different plants. These two plants were Argos Yumbo and Argos Zona Franca. The goal was to have participants from all over the country.

For the first time Alfran Andino has carried out a workshop that includes practical sessions on installation methods, an innovative aspect for this type of activities.

Between the two sessions, approximately 3 tons of materials were installed: Alfran Lite, Alfranjet Drytech, and Tix. The participants had the opportunity to mix, vibrocast, gun and project via shotcrete, with their own hands, the different materials on a test bench installed for that purpose.

On behalf of Alfran, collaborators from Refractarios Américas and Technical Management from Spain participated.

Multinational teamwork, Alfran mode.

The Andalucía Económica magazine recently held a new series of meetings entitled ‘Sevilla apuesta por la industria’ (Seville bets on the industry). Various companies from the region gathered on this day, including Alfran. The day took place on May 25 at the Alcalá X Business Park, in Alcalá de Guadaíra. In addition, the act had the collaboration of the Confederation of Employers of Seville (CES).

The event was presented by Alfredo Chávarri, Managing Director of Andalucía Económica. It was then inaugurated by Trinidad Argota, provincial deputy of Supramunicipal Public Services of the Diputación de Sevilla; Francisco Javier Castro, General Secretary of Innovation, Industry and Energy of the Junta de Andalucía; Miguel Rus, President of the Confederation of Employers of Seville; and Ana Isabel Jiménez, Mayor of the City Council of Alcalá de Guadaíra.

The day served to analyze and publicize the commitment of the province of Seville for the industry. More than 150 people attended, who did not want to miss the opportunity of listening to representatives of large entities.

At the beginning of the cycle, the industrial wealth of Seville was highlighted as the ideal territory for the consolidation of industrial projects. Likewise, Alcalá de Guadaíra was highlighted as the engine of the metropolitan area of Seville and its province. The industrial parks of the town produce 40% of the industrial GDP of the province, and 9% of the GDP of the region, constituting itself as the largest industrial center of Andalusia.

Alfran in “Seville bets on the industry”

After the opening, Juan Borrego, territorial delegate of Seville of the Ministry of Employment, Enterprise and Commerce of the Junta de Andalucía, intervened. He spoke about the state and future prospects of the Sevillian industry in a presentation entitled ‘Industrial Strategy of Andalusia 2020’. He marked the industry as one of the fundamental pillars of the economy and synonymous with Productivity, Innovation, Stable Employment and Quality.

Then, the round table entitled ‘The industry in Seville’ began. It was moderated by Juan Román, President of the Industry Committee of the Confederation of Employers of Seville (CES), and counted on the interventions of Antonio Gómez, President of the Association of Aeronautical Companies Helix; Ángel Pulido, director of the Port Authority of Seville; Enrique Delgado, Director of Hydrometallurgy and Environment of Copper Las Cruces; José María Domínguez, Managing Director of Refractarios Alfran, S.A .; and Carmen Quintero, General Director of MP Productivity.

José María Domínguez, Managing Director of Alfran, spoke about the international projection and the new Strategic Plan that is being finalized. He also stressed the importance of working on innovation through strategic alliances, and in digital transformation.

After the interventions, the question time came among the public attending the speakers. José María Domínguez, Managing Director of Alfran, was asked about the international expansion, specifically in Saudi Arabia. José María Domínguez highlighted the great appealing that Seville has to attract foreign investors “people love to come to Seville, this is an advantage”.

The event of “Seville bets on the industry” ended with some networking. Where, in a

Last June, days 14 and 15, the first seminar “Refractory Solutions for the Copper Industry” was held in the city of Santiago, Chile, with great success.

With the assistance of 21 people, keys of the main companies of that industry in the country (Angloamerican, Codelco, Enami Paipote, Glencore) as well as Atlantic Copper (Spain). We also had the participation of professors from the University of Concepción (Chile) and the University of Huelva (Spain), in addition to the participation of our counselor Patricio Barrios, with extensive professional experience in the copper industry in different multinational companies .

As part of the program, we had the opportunity to present to the participants our refractory solutions for the industry, taking advantage of the opportunity to present our most recent catalogue for this sector.

Interactive activities were carried out which were of great value to the participants.

One of them was the exhibition of success stories with our materials from the people in charge of the operations as exhibitors:

• Codelco Ventanas: “Electric oven and reverbe”.
• Atlantic Copper: “Applications of refractory-fiber technology at critical points”.
• Glencore Altonorte: “Converters mouths”.

Additionally, and as an offer of value for the seminar, we carried out two round tables and a master class giving a look to the future and innovation:

• Round table: “The challenges of the copper industry”. Roberto Parra/Patricio Barrios
• Round table: “Replacement of refractories formed by non-conformed”. José María Domínguez/Luis Hurtado
• Master lecture: “Selective recycling of refractories in the industry”. Margarita Álvarez.

As usual, we had the opportunity to share with our guests acts of a more playful and social nature to enhance networking.

Academic activities about not conformed refractories, are not common in Chile. Therefore, our guests have asked us to make them on a regular basis.

We aim to be able to carry out, in the near future, our second Seminar, in the search to reach every corner of this industry, not only in Chile but throughout the region.

Alfran Saudi Arabia has been awarded a contract with the cement company or Arabia, Rabigh-KSA, for the installation of refractory lining in the precalciner of line 6.

The total area covered was 200 m². The total duration of the work was 13 days, starting on April 11 and ending on the 22nd of the same month. The scope of these included demolition, anchoring and installation of dense concrete by shotcreting.

A large part of the mechanical work was carried out during the same period. It included the manufacture and installation of almost 150 m² of sheets, which were completely damaged, in the conical section of the precalciner. Likewise, substitution by burner lances was carried out. The mechanical work was carried out by Arabian Cement.
ASA installed a total of 60 Tm of Alfranjet 45 SIC and 15 TM of Alfranlite 10-14 Li.
The works were in charge of the Operations Manager of ASA. They were carried out with a total of 28 workers, 24 locals and 4 technicians, who were from Alfran Spain.

Arabian Cement was very satisfied with the work developed by Alfran.

In the March issue of the magazine “Cement and Building Materials Review” the technical article “Magnesia-Spinel Castable. An Innovative Solution for Clinker Kilns “. It discusses the promising results of the rebuilt of basic bricks in the coating area with a new concrete, ALFRANMAG 85 HG.

Thus, this solution implies significant reductions in downtime, costs and environmental impact. Similarly, it increases the safety of workers during the stop.

Basic concrete, ALFRAN MAG 85 HG a solution for Clinker rotary kilns

Magnesia, MgO, is the fundamental raw material used in the manufacture of bricks for the coating of rotary clinkerization furnaces. This material is chosen due to its chemical compatibility with the process. In addition, its high predisposition to hydration has not made it possible to use it in concretes until now.

In this way, the solution to extend the life of the basic bricks in the coating area is the rebuilt of the basic bricks by means of the projection with ALFRAN MAG 85 HG, a high performance concrete based on magnesia-spinel.